Improvement in mechanisms for making counters for boots and shoes



5 Sheets--S heet T.

E. ANDREWS.

Mechanisms for Making Bounters for Boots and Shoes.

N0, 14(),569, Patentedjuly8flr873.

WITNESSES: INYEN TOR 2 t1 m'ne-ys.

AM PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHIC ca. My (assure/v53 PROCESQ 5 Sheets--Sheet 2';

E. ANDREWS. Mechanisms for Making Counters for Boats and Shoes,

Patented July 8,1873.

INVENTOR: 2% MM I By $570M .flttomays.

WITNESSES.

AM Pnam-umasRAPH/c c'a MK (ossoms PRacEss) 5Sheets-Sheet3.

E. ANDREWS. Mechanisms for Making Counters for Boots and Shoes.

Patented uly 8,1873.

INVENTOR:

WITNESSES:

5 Shets--Sheet 4.

E. ANDREWS. Mechanisms for Making Counters for Boots andShoes.

Patented July 8,1873.

INVENTQR;

;g flttorneys.

WITNESSES 5 Sheets--Sheet 5.

E. ANDREWS. Mechanisms for Making Counters for Boots and Shoes.

No, 140,569 Patentedluly8,1873.

' FIGJI.

F1012. 2 1912 Icz I I z J 1f1G.13.- 5 f f f u u 19 WITNESSES; INVENTORI awk vi n-olww J W v a arm .9. MM j/iti y AM PHOTU'LITHOSRAP/l/C C0. N. X! USBGRNEIS PROCESS.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIOE.

EMERY ANDREWS, OF WELOHVILLE, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT lN MECHANISMS FOR MAKING COUNTERS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 140,569, dated July 8, 1873; application filed February 14, 1873.

cially which are made from leather-board,

and to that part of the manufacture which terminates in the production of the skived or beveled blank or flat counter; or, in other words, the improvements relate to cutting up leather-board or other stock into counters or counter-blanks, which are subsequently crimped or molded into form for use. The invention consists: First, in a peculiar process of manufacture; second, in two co-acting machines or a two-part apparatus to carry out this process, as hereinafter set forth. The objects of the invention are, first, the manufacture of parti-cir'cular counters by automatic machinery; second, the production of ready-skived counters with minimum of waste third, to dispense with dies wholly or in part; fourth, superior simplicity and efiiciency in the apparatus; fifth, provision for cutting counters of various sizes and styles by means of one and the same apparatus.

Sheet 1.Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine for cutting leather-board or other stock into strips with skived edges. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, on the line a a, Fig. 1.

Sheet 2.-Fi g. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line b b, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view on a larger scale of a knifestock of the same machine. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified knife-stock with knife therein adapted for cutting strips with square edges.

Sheet 3.Fig. 6 is a plan view of a second machine for cutting the strips produced by the first into particircular counters. Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same on the line a, a, Fig. 6.

Sheet 4.-Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section on the line b b, Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the second machine. Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the same.

Sheet 5.Figs. 11, 12, and 18 are diagrams (edge views) illustrating difi'erent modes of stripping or slitting a sheet of leather-board or other stock. Figs. 14 and 15 are diagrams (plan views) illustrating different modes of cutting strips into particircular counters. Fig. 16 is a face view of a ready-skived particircular counter as produced by the process herein described.

Particircular or round-topped counters have heretofore been cut singly or in pairs by means of dies, and subsequently skived by hand or machinery. The first part of this invention consists in a certain improved mode of manufacture, which is as follows: A sheet, B, of leather-board or other stock is first divided by a suitable machine, Figs. 1-5, into uniform strips, 2, of proper width, as illustrated in Figs. 11-13, Sheet 5. These strips may be skived in the process of separating them in either of the modes illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, so as to economize material; or the strips may have square edges, as illustrated in Fig. 13; and they may be of sufficient width for two counters, as illustrated in Figs. 11-14, or of a single width, as illustrated in Fig. 15. The strips thus formed are cut into parti-circular counters, O, in the manner illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15. Thus the edges of the strips constitute the straight-edges of the counters, and by cutting alternately from opposite edges the waste scrap is reduced to minimum.

By oblique cuts, as in the illustration, the skiving may also be completed at this operation, and ready-skived parti-circular counters may thus be produced at two simple cutting operations.

The second operation may be carried out with dies, but preferably it is accomplished by means of revolving knives k, in a suitable machine, Figs. 6-10, by which either square or skived edges may be produced, as stated.

. When skived counters are to be produced the straight edges are skived in severing the strips, and the round edges in cutting the strips into counters or in severing the individual counters.

This process is carried into effect by means of two simple machines, or a two-part apparatus, which will now be described, reference being made first to Sheets 1 and 2 of the drawing, Figs. 1-5, illustrating the first machine.

A represents a frame, which may be constructed of any suitable form and material; and T represents a feeding-table at one end of the same, from which the sheets of leatherboard or other stock may be taken. E E represent transverse supportin g-bars spanning the frame A in the same vertical plane above and below the surface of the feeding-table. y y represent undercut flanges or rails on the bar E, and y a horizontal slot in the bar E k k 76 represent knives; H H H stocks or holders thereof; and 00 w, screws and clampbars for attaching these stocks to the rails g; of the supporting-bar E. The construction of the stocks H H is clearly represented in Figs. 4 and 5, Sheet 2. Each stock is made in two parts, 1 2, and a slightly undercut socket, 3, is formed in the two parts to receive the character of knife, for which the stock is intended. el 4 represent bolts, and 5 set-screws, or their equivalents, for clamping the knives. 6 represents a recess formed in the bottom of each of the knife-stocks H H to permit the rise of the material on the beveled sides of the oblique knives k 70 F F represent cuttingblocks to coact with the knives 70 70 Z l represent grooves in the tops of these blocks to receive and support the points of the knives, and 1; Q7 represent bolts attaching the same to the supporting-bar W. G represents a crosshead mounted in longitudinal ways in the frame A, and f f fingers projecting from the face thereof. a 20 represent gripers pivoted in the ends of the fingers f, and t t represent tappets to engage therewith. A horizontal groove, 9, is formed in the points of all the fingers to receive the edge of a sheet of stock, and into this groove the faces of the gripers project. R R represent racks, and \V W spurwheels meshing therewith to reciprocate the slide G. IV represent loose gears; X, a reversing clutch between the same on the shaft S of the spur-wheels IV; and P, a driving-puL ley; and W a connectinggear for driving the gears W and shaft S.

Referring to Figs. 6-10, Sheets 3 and 4, u r

lustrating the second machine, A represents an upright frame of any suitable form and material, and T a cutting-table thereon. D D represent cutting-forms on the table T and I Icombined forms and clamps concentric therewith. k k represent revolving knives, and H H the stocks thereof. 1 I represent stationary cams operating in connection with the revolving knife-stocks H to press the same outward to the periphery of the clamps I. S S represent parallel longitudinal shafts. W W represent gears connecting these shafts, and P P fast and loose pulleys to receive a band for driving the .same. S S represent vertical shafts, and WW bevel-gear ing connecting the same with the shafts S. J J represent crown cams on the shafts S and j j arms projecting from the hinged edges of the clamps I to engage therewith. K K represent horizontal arms attached adjustably to the upper ends of the shafts S by clampscrews 2', and h h represent shouldered longitudinal guide-grooves in these arms. M M represent slides to which the knife-stocks H are attached by set-screws m. a n represent springs in the outer ends of the guide-grooves h, and 0 0 interchangeable stops at their inner ends. The construction of these parts is more clearly illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, where 1 2' represent parts of which the stocks are composed; 3, knife-sockets5 and 4., clampingscrews.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Sheets 13 of leather-board or other stock are supplied to the feeding-table T of the first machine, Figs. 1-5, and as the fingers f of the cross-head. G approach the table, the edge of a sheet or board is fed into the grooves g in the ends of the same. As the cross-head advances further the arms of the gripers u come in contact with the tappets t, and the board is grasped preparatory to the effective movement. As this progresses the board is drawn against and through the knives which have been previously adjusted, so as to cause the sheet or board to be cut into uniform straight strips.

In the illustration the knives k k are arranged so as to make alternate oblique cuts 0, Fig. 11. If preferred, the knives may be arranged to make parallel oblique cuts 0 Fig. 12 or, for some purposes, straight cuts 0 Fig. 13, may be preferred, the latter be ing produced by means of corresponding knives 70 Fig. 5. The knives 70 k and their stocks H H are uniform, and the cut is varied by attaching the knives alternately on opposite sides of the supporting-bar E, as in the illustration, or all on one side thereof. At the end of the cutting-stroke the tappet t engages the arms of the gripers and releases the strips, which fall in a pile within the base of the frame or within or on a suitable receptacle. By shifting the clutch X the motion of the wheels W is reversed, and the head G with its fingers is moved forward to take another board. The tappet 1- may be dispensed with, and the Weight of the arms or suitablyapplied springs may render them automatic. The fingers and their appurtenances should be adjustable laterally to correspond with the spaces between the knives. The strips z, as produced by the first machine, are fed onto the table T of the second, Figs. 6-10, Sheets 3 and 4.

In the illustration the machine is adapted to strips of the style and width represented in Figs. 11 and 14, and is not adjustable as to width, but provision may be made for adjusting one knife or set of knives, and the appurtenances thereof for cutting difierent widths of strips. The machine may be adapted by changing the knives and forms to cut the strips illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, and to vary the style of counter produced to some extent. The strip being fed over the forms D until these are covered, the machine is started by shifting the drivingband onto the tight pulley P and rotary motion is immediately imparted to the upright shafts S and through the arms K and slides M to the knife-stocks H, carrying the knives k, which are thus made to revolve in a given circle.

The forms D and the clamps I, as conformed thereto, are designed to modify the curves described by the knives so as to vary the shape of counter produced. When this is not desired the forms D may be removed.

Before the knives begin to cut, the arms J, operating through the arms j, depress the clamps I so as to securely hold the strip, and subsequently the partially severed counters. Meanwhile the stationary cams I acting on the knife-stocks, press the same outward against the action of the springs a to engage with the edges of the clamps I, on which the stocks now ride until the knives have passed out of the material, the knives traversing the edges of the forms D. When the cutting is concluded the cams J release the clamps I, and while the knives are completing their rotation the shifting of the released strip may be accomplished. The counters G are readily separated from the scrap, the latter passing off in continuous strips. At least one pair of the knives are preferably employed to avoid the necessity for turning the strips to cut from both edges. In the illustration two pairs are employed. Sufficient may be introduced to cut up an entire strip at one operation. For cutting squareedged counters the knife-stocks H are modified in the same manner as those of the first machine, as illustrated in Fig. 5. By a modification of the forms and operating mechanism counters with straight ends may be produced.

The gearing and other details of the apparatus admit of considerable modification. For instance, the first machine may preferably be driven by open and crossed belts on a pair of pulleys in place of the gears W or a single band and pulley may be employed, and the cross-head be drawn back by a weight operating through cord and pulleys. In both machines an automatic shifting device may.

be added, or the gearing may be shifted by hand, or both machines may be driven by hand, but little power being required.

It will be observed that in the strippingmachine the sheets or boards are not crowded against the knives, as by any pushing device, but drawn cuts are produced, and any upsetting or compression of the sheet is thus precluded and smooth cuts insured. In the described arran gement the knives are stationary. If preferred the griping-fingers may be stationary and the knives reciprocated without essential change in the character of the machine.

Another important feature is the support of the stripping-knives above and below the sheet. The described grooves l' to receive the points of the knives are not essential. The knives may rest on corners of the cuttingblocks.

Another feature common to both machines is the form of the knives, the same being made with retreating edges, so as to make downward draw-cuts.

The oblique knives are further beveled, but from one side, so as to lift only the thin edges of the upper strips, or the thin upper edges; and recesses 6, Fig. 4, being provided to re ceive these upturned edges, any binding, which might otherwise result, is obviated. These recesses may be formed by cutting into the stocks, or separate pieces may be attached to form the same.

The following is claimed as new:-

1. The process of cutting out counters by I first slitting the sheets of stock into strips with beveled or ready-skived edges, and subsequently dividing these strips into finished counters with ready skived straight edges formed by the edges of the strips, substantially as herein set forth.

2. A series of oblique slitting and skiving knives, 70 k arranged and operating substantially as herein described, for cutting sheets of leather-board or other stock into readyskived strips without waste, as set forth.

3. The series of slitting and skiving knives k W, mounted in independent stocks H H adjustable laterally, substantially as herein described, for the purpose set forth.

4. The supporting-bar E, with rails y on opposite sides, in combination with the removable and laterally-adjustable knife-stocks H H for the purpose specified.

5. The cutting-blocks F F, arranged and operating substantially as described, in com bination with oblique slitting-knives k 70 for the purpose set forth.

6. The oblique slitting and skiving knives 70 k constructed with retreating cutting-edges, as described, and combined with cuttingblocks F F, for the purpose specified.

7. The oblique slitting or slitting and skiving knives k W, beveled only on the upper side, in combination with stocks H H having recesses 6 to co-operate therewith, as described, for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination of a series of slitting or slitting and skivin g knives, 70 k and a head, G, with fingers f arranged in the rear of the knives, so as to operate as herein set forth.

9. The gripers u, constructed and operating substantially as described, in combination with the fingers f, for the purpose specified.

10. The revolving knives k in combination 12. The combination of revolving knives k With the cutting-table T and clamps I, operwith their stocks H clamps I, forms D, springs ating as herein described, for severing partin, and cams J 1 operating as described, for circular counters C from strips 2, or for sevthe purpose set forth. ering and skivin g the same at one operation, EMERY ANDREWS. as set forth.

11. The forms or patterns D and springs n Witnesses: in combination with the revolving knives k GEO. ANDREWS, for the purpose specified. G. D. STAPLES. 

